Lifting gate latch



Jan. l0, 1950 P. R. LADD LIFTING GATE LATCH Filed Aug. 25, 1948 PatentedJan. l0, 1950 Parks R. Ladd, Junction City, Ky.

Application August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,119

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a, lifting gate latch.

An object of the invention is the construction of an eicient gate latch,particularly adapted to 'farm gates, which will lift the outer end ofthe gate and hold it in its normal horizontal position When the gatelatch is in a set condition.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an eflicient gatelatch that can be easily operated for locking or unlocking a gate.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of aneilicient gate latch which is mounted in an accessible position to beeasily operated from either side of the gate upon which the gate latchis mounted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention comprisescertain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts aswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a farm gate shown in an unlockedposition, with my gate latch attached thereto, while Figure 2 is asimilar View showing the gate latch in a set or locked position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View, taken on line 3 3,Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of myinvention is illustrated, I designates a farm gate that is hingelymounted in the usual way at 2, 2.

The gate latch comprises a sectional handle 3 and a substantiallyL-shaped or angular lever section 4. The lever section 4 comprises abody 5, which is bifurcated or slotted at 6, Fig. 3, for the purposehereinafter specied. The slotted portion of said body 5 receives slat 1of the farm gate I, A bolt, or similar fastener, 8 extends through thebifurcated portion of body 5 and also through the slat 'I, whereby thedevice is pivotally mounted on slat or bar 1. The bifurcated portion ofthe body 5 is provided with a plurality of horizontal apertures 8a,arranged in registering pairs for receiving bolt 8, whereby the leversection 4 is adjustably mounted on slat 1.

The sectional handle 3 comprises sections 9, 9. Each section is providedwith an outwardly extending grip IIJ, which can be grasped by theoperator during the operation of the device. A bolt I I, or similarfastening means, extends through the lower portion of the body 5 andalso through the upper ends of sections 9, whereby the sectional handle3 is pivotally mounted on the lever section 4. A bolt, or similarfastening means, I2 extends through sections 9 and through the inner endof the latch bar I3, whereby the latch bar I3 is pivotally mounted onthe sectional handle 3. The outer end of latch bar I3 is adapted to beplaced upon pin I4 when the device is moved to its set position, asshown in Fig. 2. When the device is moved to its unset or unlockedposition, as shown in Fig. 1, the latch bar I3 will be free of pin I4,thereby permitting the gate to be opened. It is to be noted that thelatch bar I3 slides between two nails I3a and is retained in anunlatched position therebetween, Fig. 1.

Farm gates are usually comparatively heavy, and will more or less sagdown, Fig. 1, when in their unlocked condition. Therefore, by employ..ing my device, when the device is in its set or locking position, thegate will be lifted and held in its normal horizontal position, wherebythe life of the gate, aswell as its efficiency, will be greatlyincreased.

It is to be noted that when in its set position, the gate latch has itssections 9 in an inclined position, towards the rear of the gate,whereby the device is positively retained in its locked position. It isalso to be noted that when in this locked position, the pivot,constituted by bolt II, is not in the same vertical plane with the bolt8; these details, including the peculiar construction of the cooperatingelements, produce an eiicient lever device, whereby in locking the gate,the gate is lifted from the position shown in Fig. l to the positionshown in Fig. 2.

A supplemental post or plate I5 is mounted on post I6; this post orplate I5 carries the pin I4.

Another advantage for the angular structure of body 5 is that itfurnishes room for the inner end of latch bar I3 to move closely to thelever section, above the lower end of body 5, when the gate latch is inits set or locked position.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention andillustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changesor alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which thisinvention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I,therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations asshall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A lifting gate latch comprising a lever section having anoutstandinglower yportion, ahandle pivoted on the outer endof saidoutstanding lower portion, said handle being adapted to be swung to aninclined position and partly over said lever 4 REFERENCES CITED sectionand thereby be located in a locked or set position, and a, latch barpivotally mounted on said handle and being adapted to partly extend oversaid outstanding lower portion when said latch device is in a locked orset position. 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS PARKS R. LADD. Number Name Date456,956 Irwin Aug. 4, 1891

